Urban Trends: Social Habits, Health, and City Life
The Big Bottle: Informal Youth Gatherings
1) Why is the “big bottle” an informal party?
The “big bottle” is an informal party because it is a spontaneous gathering, often involving very young people.
2) How do these parties affect residents?
These parties affect residents by leaving city centers full of rubbish and causing noise disturbances that keep people up all night.
3) Local authorities think very favorably of the “big bottle”:
False. The “big bottle” is perceived by local governments as a social problem.
4) Drinking parties of this type have been organized by Spanish cities for many years:
False. It has recently become fashionable to compete for the largest national drinking gathering.
5) The police are afraid teenagers will become violent:
False. City councils fear that these gatherings could lead to violence.
6) There is a single policy regarding “the big bottle” in Spain:
False. The government has tried to introduce emergency legislation, but this is unlikely to have much impact because regional authorities across Spain have set different minimum ages for buying alcohol.
Health and Environmental Impacts of Meat Consumption
1) How does meat consumption affect the rainforest?
Rainforests are used to feed cows, and if we eat a lot of meat, more rainforests will be chopped down.
2) Why is eating too much meat bad for you?
Eating too much meat is bad because people consume more saturated fat, which can lead to heart disease and cancer.
3) What argument do meat producers use to defend themselves?
Meat producers say that red meat is part of a healthy diet, and they don’t believe that reducing meat consumption has such a dramatic impact on health.
4) Eating meat twice a week is bad for you:
False. Studies suggest that more than 45,000 people who eat meat more than twice a week could be affected.
5) Diets containing large amounts of meat can cause heart disease and cancer:
True. Widespread change to low-meat diets could prevent 31,000 early deaths from heart disease and 9,000 from cancer.
An Original Way to Meet People: A Chance Encounter
1) Why was the narrator going to meet Frank Gehry?
The narrator was going to meet Frank Gehry to get his approval for a housing project.
2) How did the accident happen?
The narrator was driving fast because he was late. He got lost and, due to not paying attention, accidentally killed a dog.
3) What does Frank Gehry thank the narrator for?
Frank Gehry thanks the narrator because his dog was old and ill, and neither he nor his wife had the heart to put the dog down.
4) The woman felt nervous when she learned about the accident:
False. She looked out and calmly said, “That’s my dog.”
5) The narrator felt worried when he discovered who the owner of the dog was:
True. The narrator felt great worry upon realizing he had killed Frank Gehry’s dog.
Traffic in London: Addressing Congestion
1) Why do you think Londoners have changed their minds about cars since they replaced horses in their city?
Londoners have likely changed their minds because traffic congestion has increased dramatically since cars replaced horses.
2) How does this system help public transport?
The system helps public transport by collecting money from fees and fines, which can be invested in public transport, and by reducing private traffic, making buses and other forms of public transport more efficient.
3) If motorists want to drive into London between 7:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., they are charged some money:
True. All motorists entering central London between 7:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. have to pay a £5 admission fee.
4) The Government agreed to support this plan introduced by the Mayor:
False. The Government initially took a “wait and see” attitude.
5) In spite of this plan, traffic has not decreased in London:
False. Private traffic is now down by 20 percent.
6) Most motorists will support the plan if it is combined with other measures:
True. If you put it in a package with other measures, a majority of motorists will support it.